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BORN
1939
DIED
2023
Les Banks Obituary
Born: August 13, 1939 in Cherry Valley, IL
Died: November 28, 2023 in Durand, IL
Les E. Banks, 84, of Belvidere, IL passed away on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. He was born August 13, 1939 in Cherry Valley, IL where he was raised. The son of Glenn and Ethel (Schoonmaker) Banks. He married Jean M. Schalla on December 26, 1970 in Moline, IL. He was a member of the Cherry Valley Cub Scout & Boy Scouts. Les served four years in the U.S. Air Force from 1956-1960, he was a part of the United States Trotting Assoc. from 1960-2022, he was the owner, trainer and driver of trotting and pacing racehorses, along with having a horse dentistry business, former president of Illinois Auctioneers Assoc. Les owned Illini Ambulance & Oxygen Company in East Moline, IL for numerous years and he established a highly successful business called "Illini Cash Advance". Over the years Les has lived in the Quad Cities area, Aurora, Plainfield and Sandwich where he ultimately spent the last 60 years. In his downtime he enjoyed reading biography's Most of all he loved spending time with family and friends. Les is survived by his children, Rodney Banks of IL, Jay (Linda) Leonard of MI, Scott Banks of FL, Gay (George) Leonard of CA, Rhonda (Lonnie) Newton of IN, Frank (Mary Beth) Banks of MI, Jody (Ronda) Leonard of IL and Raymond Banks of TX; one brother, Dwight (Teri) Banks of IL; twelve grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife, Jean of 48 years, his daughter, Patty Banks; one sister, Benita Yunek, one brother, Stanley Banks. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 3, 2023 at Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Somonauk, IL. Funeral service will be at 5:00 p.m. following the visitation with Pastor Derek Johnsen officiating. Graveside will be on Monday, December 4, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at Flora Cemetery in Cherry Valley, IL. Memorials may be directed to Cherry Valley Methodist Church. For more information or to sign the online guestbook go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com Turner-Eighner Funeral Home 13160 W. Rt 34 ~ P.O. Box 404 Somonauk, IL 60552 815-498-2363
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Memories and Condolences
for Les Banks
1 Entry
Marvin & Yvonne Michelson
November 30, 2023
So sorry to hear of Les`s passing our thought and prayers are with your family and his friends. Mick & Yvonne Michelson
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